FISCAL NOTE TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 679

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 15, 1997

      Assembly Bill No. 679 of 1996 would impose on landlords who are convicted of a second or subsequent violation for illegal occupancy of a property owned by the landlord an additional fine that would be equal to the tuition cost for nonresident pupils pursuant to P.L.1967, c.271 (N.J.S.18A:38-19) of any children residing in the illegal occupancy who are enrolled in the public schools. Proceeds would be remitted to the appropriate school districts. The municipal court and the Superior Court have jurisdiction under the bill for the enforcement of this penalty.

      The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) has advised the Office of Legislative Services (OLS) that it maintains no statistics that would allow for the calculation of a fiscal impact should this bill be enacted into law.

      The OLS is unable to provide a cost estimate of the provisions of this bill, because there is no way to determine the identity of the persons against whom such a fine may be levied, the number of children who may be involved, and the amount of tuition costs to be recovered, as this amount will vary from school district to school district. However, the OLS has obtained the average cost of educating a student in the 1996-97 school year in several school districts to demonstrate the possible value of such a fine. In Newark, the average cost is $9,845; in Jersey City, it is $8,476; in Madison, it is $10,439; and in South Orange-Maplewood, it is $8,429.

This fiscal note has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67.